MTV, Nick Hike China Presence

9/24/2004 9:35 AM Eastern

By: By Multi Channel News Staff

MTV: Music Television and Nickelodeon reached deals that will expand their presence in China, according to AP.

MTV said it will triple its reach in Guangdong province to 10 million by the end of the year, adding that it has reached a deal to produce Chinese-language music and entertainment programming for regional broadcaster Beijing Television, AP reported.

And China's state broadcaster, CCTV, expanded its agreement with Nickelodeon, gaining the rights to all episodes of animated shows CatDog and The Wild Thornberrys.

The two Nick series have been top ratings performers on CCTV's new channel for children, which launched in March, AP reported.

Viacom Inc., parent company of both networks, is also discussing other possible deals with CCTV, including using programming made by CCTV to air on Nickelodeon channels outside of China and other licensing deals for Nickelodeon shows on CCTV, according to AP.